The bar owner justifies the decision with concern for customer safety. However, there are those who consider that the measure stigmatizes solo customers and makes nightlife culture less welcoming.
A bar in Altrincham, England, has sparked a heated debate online after it introduced an unusual policy: solo customers are not allowed after 9pm.
Alibi, a cocktail bar and nightclub, published the rule earlier this month, stating: “No entry to alone people. After 9pm, Alibi does not allow entry to alone people.” The decision, made by owner Carl Peters, provoked polarized reactions about the nightlife safetycustomers’ rights and drinking alone should automatically be considered suspicious or a threat to well-being in the bar.
Peters defended the rule in a video widely shared on Instagram, saying the policy is about risk management, not discrimination. “It’s our job to maintain the license, ensure everyone’s safety and mitigate risks whenever possible”, he explained.
The bar owner reveals that a customer alone in a crowded space poses a challenge for staff, especially during medical emergencies. “It’s a real nightmare for us to deal with this,” he said, describing situations in which alone customers faint or need care in a crowd.
Carl Peters further stated that some people who arrive alone are unpredictable, sometimes getting drunk and looking for groups to keep company. In your experience, these interactions can become undesirable. “Sometimes, if people are allowed to enter alone, the reason they are alone is that they have no one to talk to, so they start to bother other groups,” he said.
Reactions online were swift and divided. Defenders argued that the policy prioritizes safety, especially for young people who frequent nightlife environments. “As a mother of two young adult daughters, I support your policies. Group security“, wrote one commenter. Another added that establishment owners have the right to impose rules that they consider protect their employees and customers.
But critics fought back, calling the policy prejudiced and unfair to those who simply like to have a drink alone or they work late and want to go to a bar before going home. “Closed mind,” wrote one person, noting that she often stops at bars alone after work. Others argued that banning lone diners reinforces negative assumptions about people who spend time alone and contributes to a less welcoming nightlife culture.
Peters emphasizes that the rule only applies during nightclub opening hours, when the place is crowded and the team focuses on managing groups. Customers traveling alone are still welcome in the early evening and can come in after 9pm if they see friends at the door or are already inside the bar.
For some, the Alibi policy is a sensible security measure; for others, it signals an undesirable shift towards monitoring the way people choose or not to socialize.
